--- title: "Tragic News: That Viral Giant Frog Video Is Edited to Make Him Look Huge" description: "Dumpy, an Australian white frog, went viral this week for being delightfully enormous. But sadly, while we still absolutely stan, Dumpy isn't that big." date: "2022-10-06" modified: "2022-10-08" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/viral-giant-frog-edited" categories: - "Science & Energy" tags: - "frog" - "the digest" - "viral video" --- # Tragic News: That Viral Giant Frog Video Is Edited to Make Him Look Huge ![Dumpy, an Australian white frog, went viral this week for being delightfully enormous. But sadly, while we still absolutely stan, Dumpy isn't that big.]() *\Image: Lucas Peterson/TikTok\* ## Frogger 3D Dumpy, an Australian White’s tree frog, went viral this week for being delightfully enormous. Truly massive. An absolute unit. But sadly, Dumpy — while we still absolutely stan — isn't actually that big. Also, he doesn't eat bananas. Sorry, folks! Dumpy — gotta say: perfect frog name — is owned by videographer and Frog Guy Lucas Peterson, who 0n Wednesday posted a [now- viral TikTok]() of his convincingly massive pet. In the video, our Big Boi froggo can be seen just hangin' out, eating massive chunks of a banana in enormous gulps. Alas, though, the clip is really just an editing flex on Peterson's behalf. "This is not his real diet. This is just for fun and comedy," Peterson wrote in the caption. "He typically eats 12 crickets a week in his terrarium. His real size is about 4-5 inches he's enlarged with VFX perspective tricks." https://twitter.com/jadethetrapper/status/1577694750404132871 ## Frog Confusion But while Peterson did provide a disclaimer, many netizens failed to get the memo. "Dude look I'm super confused and I'm \[gonna\] need someone to make this make sense for me," [wrote one commenter](). "What is going on here?" "I thought frogs grew to like, tomato size. You got a blinking bowling ball sitting around," [responded another incredulous TikTokker](). "So excuse me if I have some questions." "We have been BAMBOOZLED," wrote another, which prompted Peterson to respond with a chuckling "ha ha sure," adding that "Dumpy might not be this big but he is a real frog of mine." ## Absolute Unit At four or five inches in length, Dumpy would still be pretty big, especially for a tree frog. And as Peterson clarified in his disclaimer, any of these domesticated amphibians really just eat crickets. (It's worth noting, though, that Africa's massive goliath frogs can actually get this big). Do we wish Dumpy were actually a toaster-sized monstrosity? That'd be cool, but we do love this amphibious king as he is. "What an absolute unit. It looks like a sentient zucchini fritter," [one Twitter user expressed]() in response to someone showing off their own — normal sized — white frog. "10/10 frog." **More on internet frogs:** *[Experts Alarmed by Teen Breeding Millions of Frogs for "Frog Army"]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()